If he were to strangle someone with the grip strength it took to crush a candelabra with his bare hands, they would die instantly.

She realized now that when he had grabbed her by the throat as a warning before, he must have been consciously loosening his grip. It must have been a difficult task for him to even control it to that extent.

Delia realized only now how ‘kindly’ Kaiel had treated her all along.

After all, considering their first encounter, it wouldn’t have been strange if she had died right then and there.

A sense of unknown relief and gratitude welled up inside her. But she had no time to be sentimental.

Delia found herself at a fork in the road after leaving the main palace.

There were two possibilities.

The Empress’s Palace or the annex.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Delia headed for the annex.

When Kaiel was angry, at least when there were people around, he would often confine himself to his office to avoid causing any unintended harm. After all, there was no way of knowing what kind of ripple effect his rage might have.

In the original story, Kaiel had immediately channeled his rage into vengeance and killed the Empress. Fortunately, things were different now.

‘Lady Rant is alive.’

Convinced that Kaiel wouldn’t kill the Empress, even if he went to threaten her, Delia entered the annex.

As expected, she found maids and servants running around in a panic in the middle of the hallway. They all rushed toward her as if they had found their savior.

“M-Miss……! Can you please talk some sense into His Grace?”

“Talk some sense into him? Hmm……”

That seemed a bit difficult. Delia muttered to herself and headed towards the office, leaving behind the trembling servants.

She recalled Kaiel’s eyes as he passed by her just before leaving the conference room.

Those eyes reminded her of their first encounter. It was as if she had gone back in time to when she first met him at the tavern. The Kaiel who had been endlessly cold and indifferent, not sparing her a single glance.

She was a little hurt, but considering Kaiel’s feelings, she felt more sorry for him. After all, behind all the characters who were suffering was the author who had created this world. In the end, wasn’t it all her fault as the author?

‘I’m the only one who can fully understand Kaiel’s anger.’

Delia was lost in thought when she arrived in front of the office.

“Don’t come in.”

Before she could even say anything, a rough voice rang out from inside the office. It was a voice so stern that even the sturdiest of servants would tremble in fear.

“Kaiel. It’s me.”

“……”

Delia quickly added,

“I won’t come in. Can I just stay here, outside the door?”

In the original story, when Kaiel found out who was behind it all and had to deal with the shock and rage all by himself, he had no one by his side. Who could he have leaned on with such difficult emotions to express, to tell, to share?

Delia leaned against the tightly shut office door and said,

“To be honest, I was going to do that even if you told me not to.”

Kaiel couldn’t remain in the dark about who was behind it all forever. He would have found out eventually.

“I’ll wait here until you open the door, Kaiel. I’m good at waiting.”

Honestly, she wanted to open the door right now, hug him, and comfort him, but that was easier said than done.

It was her who wanted to hug him, comfort him, and tell him it was okay.

If his anger could be quelled simply by soothing him like a child, things wouldn’t have escalated to this point.

In times like these, it was best to leave him alone.

But still,

Still.

She could at least ask.

“Kaiel.”

But Kaiel remained silent despite Delia’s call.

Was he holding back his anger, clenching his fists, or had he already turned the entire office upside down?

Delia cautiously asked, picturing various possibilities,

“Do you want a hug?”

“……”

As expected, there was no answer.

“Just thought I’d ask. Do you want a hug?”

But who knew? The door, which had been tightly shut and seemed like it wouldn’t open until tomorrow, suddenly flung open.

“Gasp!”

Delia, who had been leaning against the door, fell backward. Kaiel’s gaze, half composed and half menacing, fell upon her as she lay sprawled on the floor. He stared intently at her for a while.

“Hmm…… I didn’t expect you to open the door.”

Delia’s heart ached as she looked up at his face, his jaw clenched tight, and she forced herself to smile brightly as she got up.

“Can I take that as a yes to the hug?”

Just as she was about to dust herself off and approach Kaiel, he suddenly frowned and took a step back. A heavy thud followed.

Bang!

The office door slammed shut once more, even more forcefully than before.

“……”

Delia stood frozen for a moment, startled by the door slamming shut right in front of her face.

‘Why did you open the door in the first place?!’

She was speechless, but she soon understood his change of heart. People tend to act strangely when they’re angry. Kaiel Ceder was human too, so it was only natural.

Delia stared at the closed door for a while before plopping back down on the floor.

She suddenly recalled his firm and comforting embrace. The warm memory surfaced, comforting her heart before slowly fading away.

Every time she was in danger, Kaiel had been there to support her. She had found solace and comfort in his arms many times.

‘I wish I could be that kind of presence for Kaiel too.’

But what good was supply without demand?

Delia, who had been staring blankly at the checkered pattern on the floor, suddenly spoke in a clear voice.

“Come find me when you’re ready for a hug. I’ll hug you anytime!”

Still, it was much better to be prepared and waiting than to not have it when it was needed.

For now, she was going to wait here in front of this door until Kaiel came out. She had saved Lady Rant, so Kaiel wouldn’t kill the Empress.

With a somewhat lighter heart, Delia waited for Kaiel’s anger to subside.

An hour passed, then two……

She didn’t realize how much time had passed as she sat in front of the door, eventually dozing off and falling asleep.

As dusk began to settle and the sky turned a deep shade of gray, a dark figure emerged from the office and cast a shadow over her.

* * *

“Your Majesty. His Grace the Grand Duke, is here to see you.”

“That child?”

The Empress quietly placed the book she was holding onto her lap. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her.

“Bring me a cup of tea. Something with a strong aroma.”

The maid nodded silently and walked over to a table in the corner to prepare the tea. The only sound in the quiet office was the clinking of the silver spoon against the porcelain cup.

Even that sound grated on the Empress’s nerves, and she rubbed her forehead irritably.

“How noisy. Can you be a little quieter?”

“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

But how much time had passed?

Clang!

The Empress’s stomach lurched at the sharp sound.

“I apologize! Why is this…….”

“Just throw it away. Tsk. Why am I feeling so irritable today…….”

The weather was warm and the sky was clear, but everything felt inexplicably repulsive.

Knock, knock.

It was then that someone knocked on the door.

“Your Majesty, His Grace the Grand Duke, has arrived.”

The maid, sensing the Empress’s gaze, called out,

“Her Majesty is resting her eyes for a moment, so please tell him to come back later!”

“……”

But why? The answer, which should have come back immediately, was nowhere to be heard.

The maid called out again.

“Did you hear?!”

“……”

She sensed something strange.

A sudden chill ran down the Empress’s spine, and she covered the maid’s mouth.

“W-Wait. Don’t say anything.”

The maid closed her mouth, confused. The Empress spoke in a trembling voice.

“The Grand Duke…… you said he was here?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Empress felt her fingers stiffen. A sense of foreboding washed over her.

Had he ever announced his arrival beforehand?

The Empress felt a shiver run down her spine.

“Call the guards.”

“Suddenly…….”

“Call them!”

It was then. Before the maid could even turn around to summon the guards, the office door burst open.

A dark figure appeared from behind the door.

Behind him lay a shadowy figure sprawled on the floor. It couldn’t have been lying there of its own volition, so someone must have put it there.

“I said call the guards……!”

The Empress called out to the maid in an agitated voice. But for some reason, the maid didn’t answer.

The Empress quickly turned her head to check on the maid. As expected, the maid was staring blankly towards the door, her mouth agape. Had she seen something through the open doorway?

“Useless……!”

As the Empress turned her head back, her pupils constricted rapidly.

The figure that had been standing behind the office door was now standing right before her eyes.

In his hand, he held a single, blunt blade.

“Your Majesty.”

The Empress felt her hair stand on end, her jaw and lips trembling.

“What do you think you’re doing……?”

There was no answer. Only the cold, blunt blade touched her throat.

He looked down at her with an impassive face.

“This is your punishment.”

And with that, the blade slowly began to move.

A bloodcurdling scream escaped the Empress’s lips.

“……ss.”

“……Mi……ss. Mi……ss.”

“……”

“Miss……!”

“Gasp.”